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The holiday season, with increased shopping and bargain hunting, has become a playground for cybercriminals. Taking advantage of consumers' enthusiasm, they launch deceptive strategies designed to appear authentic, such as ments for extreme discounts, fake gift cards and Christmas decorations at suspiciously low prices.
According to Meta, these tactics are often distributed via email, text messages, social media and even commerce platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, targeting Spanish, English and French-speaking s.
Scammers employ highly sophisticated methods, such as the use of artificial intelligence to generate persuasive voices and videos. Some ads direct s to fake websites, often created with legitimate services such as Shopify, where fraudulent purchases are made.
In addition, more specific strategies have been identified, such as fake sweepstakes that collect personal data from victims. These sites often include falsified comments to gain s' trust, increasing the risk of exposure to financial and personal data.
In the face of this threat, experts such as Rachel Tobac recommend caution when shopping online. It is crucial to beware of offers that seem "too good to be true", check the authenticity of websites and not share unnecessary personal information. Security tools such as those from WhatsApp and Instagram offer notifications that alert s to possible fraud, while Facebook Marketplace employs automated alerts to detect suspicious patterns.
Most common Christmas scams
Suspiciously low discounts on popular products such as Christmas trees or gifts.
- Gift cards that require personal data to participate
Fictitious gift boxes promoted on social media.
Misleading sweepstakes requesting sensitive information.
Fake shopping sites that don't ship products.
Tips to avoid holiday scams
Beware of offers that are too attractive.
the authenticity of websites and ments.
Avoid sharing personal data on unsecured platforms.
Use security tools on social networks and shopping platforms.
Make payments only on trusted sites and with reversible methods.